Parade goer Dennis O'Mann with his puppet during the 250th New York City St Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 2011. / Timothy A. Clary, AFP/Getty Images

by John Wade, USA TODAY

by John Wade, USA TODAY

Wow, the middle of March certainly will be busy with celebrations and observances. We have National Earmuff Day (March 13) coming up, we then go right into National Potato Chip Day on March 14. That is also National Pi Day. For the record I plan to have 3.14 slices for dinner that night (note, this day actually has nothing to do with pizza). Then we celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17. By the time I will have sobered up it will be National Poultry Day (March 19) and then we are right into Extraterrestrial Abduction Day on March 20. I think it will be best to stay home that day and eat ravioli. It will, of course, be National Ravioli Day as well.

With all of these events there just doesn't seem to be any time to relax except for National Relaxation Day, but that isn't until the middle of August. Perhaps we have too many celebrations. I gave this some serious thought on Saturday while munching on my chips and dip. I know National Chip and Dip Day isn't until next week, but I couldn't wait. I have come up with some changes which I would like to see implemented.

But we need to eliminate some of our celebrations while others are keepers that just need to be better organized, moved or combined.

Here are my suggestions:

March 3rd was the start of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week. It is important to keep this but the timing is a problem. It is approximately two weeks before the NCAA Men's basketball tournament. At that time we are all too busy thinking about our potential brackets to worry about our gambling problems. It, naturally, should begin right after March Madness is over. And speaking of March Madness, it would make sense to move National Chicken Wing Day (July 29) so that it falls during the tournament.

July is Hot Dog Month. I love hot dogs and, therefore, I recommend that this be extended to include the entire baseball season. Don't worry it won't conflict with National Nutrition Month, which thankfully ends just before baseball season begins.

Let's combine the Great American Smoke Out (third Thursday of November), when smokers are urged to stop smoking tobacco, with Weed Day (also called Pot Day) which occurs on April 20th. This might make it easier for smokers to give up tobacco that day .

And then there are some observances that should be dropped entirely. These include: